Who's hurt? Badly hurt?
Magda looks around in the, well, chaos of the fight, trying to find someone to help without endangering herself
Alphonso will attempt to dodge the attacks against him:
Alphonso attacks with the sword and shield at the ready!
Hans and Zarine each take out a gor, finishing off the remaining beastmen on deck, while Magda stems the flow of blood from Gonzalo's wound.
The fierceness of quiet gives way to the relative silence of the Teufel river for a time. You hear howls from the remaining herd of beastmen, but their cries grow ever more quiet as the river vessel leaves the beastmen behind. Captain Gotthard finishes reloading his weapons as he watches the eastern shoreline for signs of a renewed attack, but it never comes. He looks over the deck with a mix of emotions on his face before turning his attention to Zarine and Axel. The tension on deck is thick. ”Let's have a discussion, your Lady. All the rest of you stay put and don't touch anything.” he gestures Zarine toward his cabin politely.
The captain's cabin is partially exposed to the elements when you enter, having been damaged by the minotaur's tree-toss earlier. He sets down his handgun carefully and clears some debris off his bed before seeming to conclude that he doesn't have seating. He leans against the wall, seemingly at ease. ”I don't make it a practice to pry into the affairs of my guests, but I have a witch on my ship. I didn't get paid for that and wouldn't have taken it if I'd been asked. I have the safety of my ship and crew to see after. What is your answer? Is there a reason I shouldn't turn your friend into the Witch Hunters?”
Somehow, no one in the crew has died from the beastman attack. Many are injured though:
People missing Wounds & can be Healed. We're not in combat, but conditions on the deck of the Flatbottom aren't amazing, so these Heal tests can be made at Average (+20).
Axel: 8
Hans: 4
Aldo: 11
Alwin I: 12
Alwin II: 12
Gerlach: 12
Gonzalo: 12
Rocco: 12
Wolfram: 6
First Mate Per Hofbauer: 14
Captain Gotthard: 7
Alwin I: Broken Bone (Minor) bind his broken arm (Average +20 Heal)
Alwin II: Broken Bone (Major) so bind his broken arm (Challenging +0 Heal). He also has a Torn Muscle (Major) but there isn't much Heal can do to help with that. I'll say that his pulled back can be diagnosed properly with an Average (+20) Heal test.
Critical Hits that Heal can't do much with:
Gerlach: just a bunch of conditions
Gonzalo: nothing permanent but he'll have the modified Fatigued condition for a number of days
Rocco: permanently deaf in one ear
Per Hofbauer: just a bunch of conditions
Examine the sores on the beastmen: Average +20 Heal
Come now captain, do you think that I am utterly incompetent? The boy is completely under control, and wouldn't have revealed himself except that he thought my life was in danger. He won't destroy you or yours, and he might be useful once he's trained. That's my investment. He's scared and frightened and pliable, and he's mine.
If you'd like to turn him in, then of course that is your right. But as for a reason why not to, I can think of several. For instance, you might feel some gratitude for how we assisted you not insignificantly in saving your ship just now. You also might not want to get involved in the inevitable fight that would occur should someone try to destroy my investment.
*You* have naught to fear from me, but you'd either have a dead witchhunter on your hands or a dead me... and no telling what my mother might do if she hears that her heir apparent was murdered. Seems like it would just complicate everyone's life.
The biggest reason might be though... if you are worried about the boy, think what he might do if he doesn't think you are his friend, and my friend. That's the real danger, if you are looking for one. The safety of your crew is guaranteed if we continue as friends. I become unable to guarantee that if we happen to become enemies, and that would also be a shame, since I find you to be a good and competent captain and also a very good shot. I would definitely be in your debt if we could continue our positive interaction.
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I'm putting everyone on a line. I'm treating the most wounded first. Rank don't apply. If you try to cut the line, you go at the back of the line. I'll do my best, as you have done YOUR best fighting these horrid malevolent creature. I'm still training as a doctor, but at least you have someone to treat your wounds, so no complaining. Alphonso here will be my assistant. THere will be probably things I cant heal here on a moving ship. Rest and healthy food will help you. No alcohol for the rest of the trip. Hans, take two of the least wounded sailors, and bring me straight bits of wood to make splints, and some rags, the cleanest rags you can find. Wash them in hot water if you can first.
Missing wounds (+20 for Average, +10 for Assistance so 80 Heal. Healing 4+SL Wounds)
SL-1
SL 3
SL 2
SL 0
SL 2
SL 3
SL 0
SL -1
SL 6
SL -1
SL 4
Magda spends hours cleaning and treating wounds, righting bones, getting from sailor to sailor until everyone is tended to.
The usually timid halfling lady shows her bossy, no non-sense side, giving strict instructions and expecting to be obeyed. But it's tempered by her honest, motherly care for every wounded sailor, which she thanks for their bravery and skill in the fight.
Hans stayed close, keeping an eye on Zarine and the captain. He cleaned off his blade, hoping that he would not have to use it again, especially against the crew that they had just saved. But if Gotthard decided to pick a fight, then a fight he would have. Hans was not ready to be unemployed just yet. The fact that the captain did not seem intimidated or fearful struck him as odd. He couldn't tell if that should worry him or not...
Somewhat isolated by the crew, Axel limps around the deck (that damn blister isnt coming good) and acting as look out, checking lines etc so that the sailors can rest and get medical care.
"I do appreciate that you fought with us: we'd all be through the gates of Morr right now if we hadn't had all hands on deck. I don't turn my fire on a comrade in arms either: that's why we're here talking in my cabin. I've no intention of picking a fight with you or your friends. But you aren't understanding what your real problem is here."
"When we make shore, any one of my sailors could end up talking into a glass, if they don't make a run straight for the Inquisition. I've seen enough wizardry to keep it together right now, but they're all scared out of their minds. All it takes is one to bring the Sigmarites down on your head. That's why were here talking: you need to persuade me so I can persuade them. I doubt I can keep all of their mouths closed tight if I'm not convinced, and it's ship sure you can't do it without me. Your bluster and talk of investment won't be enough to keep your boy out of the witch-fires."
"So I'll ask again: I'm a good man of the Empire. I just found out I have a witch on my ship. I like the man well enough, but a witch is a witch. Why shouldn't I follow the law and go report this to the Cult of Sigmar?"
Magda sets about her triage and is glad to find that everyone is going to pull through, though some are certainly the worse for wear. She binds the broken arms of the Alwins and takes note of Alwin II's badly pulled back. He shouldn't be moving around at all for a long time, but should recover. She looks over the beastmen corpses again but can't decide what might be the cause of their sores. Nothing good, certainly.
Zarine sighs. She drops any semblance of nobility and speaks with utter plainness.
Captain, honestly, your men are safe. I agree with you that there was risk out there, but not as much as you might think. And now that he knows I know, he won't try anything again. He's been trying to hide it for a long, long time, and now he trusts me to protect him from the witch-hunters, so people need to believe that they have to go through me to get to him... that just knifing him in his sleep isn't going to be the end of it. He isn't mine in the sense of slavery... only under my protection in a voluntary employment situation, like your crew.
I've been traveling with him for quite a while and he hasn't ever revealed himself before this. I have no talent myself, but I can see the weaves. I come from a family that is accustomed to magic, some as practitioners and some as "hunters" though obviously not as Sigmarites. We don't hate magic users, and we only seek them out to help them find training. I am not speaking to you from a place of ignorance. He wanted to help, but now that he knows we will handle things like that, he shouldn't panic and try again, and that show out there was me telling him not to try again under any circumstances, and he got the message.
You keep asking me for reasons why you wouldn't turn him in, and I have given you all I have, and I have tried to come up with ones that you might believe ... I'm taking him to get him trained, he's under my protection, he's safe, he's some sort of noble investment, we helped you, we should be friends and not enemies, and that I will owe you a favor, which often works in elven politics, but of course, they know who my mother is. So, enough with all of those side reasons, which are all true to at least some extent, but which you may or may not believe. The real reason is just that it isn't right to murder magic users, and that man has just as much right to keep living and breathing as part of my crew as any of YOUR crew have a right to keep living and breathing, which I believe Magda is trying to ensure even now. If you are looking for a bribe, I don't have one for you. I don't have enough money with me to try to bribe your entire crew anyway unless I gave you the bracelet from my mother, which I would never do willingly. I also don't want to start a fight with you to prevent you from reporting us. I don't enjoy solving problems through violence... but I'm out of ideas, and I haven't had enough practice with the politics of humans to know what you want to hear.
My cards are on the table. If you want to report him, then we'll disembark and try to make our own way, although I would rather, obviously, continue to our destination. I do mean to get him training, whatever it takes, and I have every confidence that he will turn into one of the best magic users out there when trained.... but I have no idea what you could tell your crew to keep them from revealing him. Is there something I could say that would make a difference to them? Do you have an idea of what you are looking for here, or did you just bring me in here to warn me that we need to get off your vessel and run?
Captain Gotthard strides back out on deck boldy, no longer carrying his rifle. "Attention crew!" he calls out to the assembled group.
"First of all, the lot of you did good work saving our skins just now. That includes our guests. Thank you to all for your efforts...too many ships get lost that way. We were fighting first for our necks, but you each did the Empire proud tonight. My hands will get hazard pay, as agreed."
"We have a witch on board: you all saw it just like I did. I've spoken with our elf lady here, and she's taking him in to Altdorf. All nice and legal or something. The Longbottom will be taking them as far as Grunberg, just like we were paid to do. Your hazard pay covers that as well. I won't force any man that refuses to travel with a witch, so if you want to buy out when we make shore, I'll hold no grudge for it. If you stay on, I'll be grateful. You are all good men."
"For now, we make for Stormdorf. We have some minor repairs to make and I want the ship checked over before we sail further. We'll need to take care of our wounded as well." He turns to give commands to his first mate reflexively before realizing that Per isn't there. "Get to work. The sooner we make port, the better."
The tension is thick on deck as the remaining sailors get back to work, and you hear some noticeable grumbling. With the men focused back on sailing, the Flatbottom picks up speed on your journey north.
The captain goes over to where Magda is working on binding wounds. "I owe you a special thanks. I won't get in your way now but if you can give me a report when you are done, I'd appreciate it."
With his crew seen to, the captain moves over to examine the fallen beastmen.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Hans went about assisting the crew. He didn't want to have to handle the beastmen bodies, if he could help it. Usually he'd be all over looting the dead, as profit was profit, but these creatures were unclean. It was one thing to sail with a witch and an elf, but beastmen? There was no denying how unnatural and evil they were. He wouldn't put it past them to wield items that were cursed by the dark gods.
Zarine calls Hans and Axel over, away from the others so she won't be overheard.
She addresses Axel.
Hans is going to tie you up. This is not because I see you as a prisoner, but because it is important to the morale of the ship. I hope you understand... but even if you don't, it is necessary, for your own safety. Try to stay out of the way of the crew as much as you can. For what it is worth, I am sorry. I don't like the necessity, but it is this or leave the boat and make our own way, and this should be better. I give you my word that you will be freed once we get to Grunberg.
She turns to Hans.
Tie his hands, but don't immobilize him completely. And for the duration of the boat trip, you're *his* bodyguard. I can protect myself, but if he is tied up, he can't... and this crew could turn hostile. I need you with him at all times. For the sake of the crew, act like you are protecting them from him, but really it is the other way around. Understood?
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Axel sighs. He knew sooner or later it would come to something like this.
But unlike his grandfather's end, he at least had hope this wouldn't lead to an execution pyre.
Just don't let them ruin or steal my stuff... , he says before extending his hands.
Magda does one more round of checking the wounded, tightening bandages if needed, cleaning wounds, giving some water to the thirsty and caring for the men like a protective mother would do.
Then, despite her tiredness, she goes looking out for the Captain, to report to him as asked
His foot still troubles him. At least being tired gives him a chance to take weight off it.
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So do me a favour will you? Send over my travel companions one at a time so that I can explain to them what's happening eh?
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Hans shrugged. Axel was a good enough sort, even if he was a witch. He tied the mans' hands, but didn't bother doing that good a job of it. If he wanted to get out, he'd be able to with a bit of struggle. "Sure thing." He said.
The atmosphere is uneasy on the ship, though less so after Axel is tied up. After a time spent sailing away from the beastmen and all the foul memories of the evening, the mood eases a little. The captain has the tack of the beastmen pushed onto a corner of the boat. He's uneasy about the stuff, but it looks like he intends to sell it if he can to cover his new expenses.
By morning, the Flatbottom arrives in Stromdorf. A steady drizzle dampens the mood as well as everything else. Even in the early morning, you can tell the small town is busier than normal. Uneven rows of tents are scattered across the riverbank further away from town, and you can see groups of armed men making breakfast among them. Their colors aren't any you recognize. At the very least, they aren't the Imperial army. The barge pulls into the docks and Captain Gotthard approaches you.
"We'll shove off again tomorrow morning if you want a ride the rest of the way to Grunberg." He leaves to see to his men and to speak with the dockmaster. He arranges for the injured to be taken to a nearby sailing inn called Night at the Docks.
Hans breathed a sigh of relief as they came into town. It felt good to know that there was something between them and any more beastmen. Townspeople, or even worse, city-folk, they just didn't understand how dangerous the roads and rivers were. He couldn't even begin to imagine what it was like for those who lived off of the beaten path. He gladly followed Zarine to whatever inn she wished to go to. He recommended the Storm Dwarf Inn. Because if the mercenaries caused any trouble there, then their captain would be close by to keep them in line.
The boat crew don't seem to be overly concerned with Axel being confined to the boat, as much as he is left with the Lady and bound to boot.
He briefly considered sleeping on the boat then figured drunken crewmen who returned to sleep it off might decide to indulge in their own brand of unsupervised justice. The best course of action was to follow his new patron, and when out of sight? Slip off the considerately tied bounds.
One thing he knew - Drunk men talked and tales of a witch would soon begin to circulate. Would these tales reach the ears of witch hunters before he left town? He could only hope he would well down river by the time they started searching. He knew full well that once you fought against the witch hunters that pretty much any hope of arguing for reform and acceptance for training were gone.
And unfortunately many witch hunters weren't there to take a potential wizard in for training.
Those who go to the Storm Dwarf inn find a large establishment with sturdy-looking but plain walls. A finely dressed woman with long auburn hair sits at breakfast with a man with golden brown hair wearing a uniform in the same colors as the soldiers outside. Their meals look simple but hearty enough.
The innkeeper approaches as you enter. "Ah more guests! Welcome! I'm Arnold. Arnold Tausch, though you can just call me Arnold if you like. You look from out of town. We have vacancies if you would like to stay at my establishment. Rooms are If it interests you, a noble in town is holding a game of Scarlet Empress tonight and is taking all comers. The entry fee is six shillings and Lord Goldhaber is providing a pot equal to an additional entry fee. I think there are two or three seats still open if you would like to pay in."
The captain goes over to where Magda is working on binding wounds. "I owe you a special thanks. I won't get in your way now but if you can give me a report when you are done, I'd appreciate it."
Noting Magda's presence, the innkeeper waves her over. "Almost didn't notice you, lass. You look the sort that knows a thing or two about medicines though...my stablehand took sick recently, and I was wondering if you'd be willing to take a look at him? I can't pay ye, but I'd be willing to throw in a meal."
Zarine makes sure that everyone is settled and then returns to the ship.
Your will M'lady? Follow you?
You can come with me if you like, but if you want to take a rest from the crew looking at you sideways, you can stay here with Hans for the night. Your decision.
Ummm, he said looking embarrassed. I believe there were joint funds put aside for us as a group... unless I misremember. Who is holding the bag on that sum? I errr... am without personal monies.
Oh, my apologies Axel. How much do you need?
Zarine gives him whatever he needs from the group fund.
Magda barely suppress a weary sigh, and rubs her face, before answering to the inkeeper
I could do with a decent, healthy meal, so lets check on your stablehand first. Do you know when he get sick?
Axel cautiously perhaps even fearfully takes 10 shillings.
The innkeeper rubs his chin. "He's been laid up for a couple of days at least, I guess. He really doesn't look good. He was complaining for a day or two before it got really bad though." He calls for one of the tavern wenches to take Magda to him. The woman introduces herself as Kirsa Rickenbacker. She's just shy of adulthood you'd guess, with short dark brown hair and blue eyes. She seems put out to be taking you, although she doesn't seem upset at Magda and doesn't comment on her displeasure.
Kirsa leads you outside and to a small cabin separated from the inn by a small field. "Eckhard is inside," she grumbles and opens the door for Magda, though she doesn't go inside.
The man inside is likely in his late forties, dressed in the poor clothing of a menial laborer. The man is shaking slightly in his bed as he moans, not reacting to Magda's entry to the room. He's covered in sweat and blood is on his shirt, likely from where he coughed it up.
---
As you get your arrangements sorted out, the door to the inn opens and a heavily armored man walks down the steps from the upper levels of the inn. He has light brown hair and striking grey eyes. He wears a sword at his side and carries a helmet under his arm. The man wears a wide grin and calls for the innkeeper. "Arnold, good morning! I'll have another of those wonderful breakfasts your wife makes."
Arnold replies quickly. "Yes, Lord Goldhaber."
He nods to the other breakfasters, as he seemingly knows them, before taking in the rest of the room's occupants. "Ah! Newcomers in town! I'm about to sit down for a meal. If you'd like to join me, let's get to know one another."
Magda wastes no time, immediatly spotting the man's feverish state, and his shaking, both clues of Ratte fever.
Then, the halfling sees something she didn't expect, a slight cut on the diseased man's arm. The wound hasn't been clean properly, or even at all, and has festered.
She takes a few steps back to remember her lessons about how to treat the man, and how to contaminating his disease might be.